America's first transcontinental railroad known originally as the " Pacific Railroad " and later as the " Overland Route " was a 1,mile 3, km continuous railroad line built between and that connected the existing eastern U. The resulting coast-to-coast railroad connection revolutionized the settlement and economy of the American West.
The first transcontinental rail passengers arrived at the Pacific Railroad's original western terminus at the Alameda Terminal on September 6, , where they transferred to the steamer Alameda for transport across the Bay to San Francisco.
The road's rail terminus was moved two months later to the Oakland Long Wharf , about a mile to the north, when its expansion was completed and opened for passengers on November 8, The transcontinental line became popularly known as the Overland Route after the name of the principal passenger rail service to Chicago that operated over the length of the line until Railroads not only increased the speed of transport, they also dramatically lowered its cost.
The first transcontinental railroad resulted in passengers and freight being able to cross the country in a matter of days instead of months and at one tenth the cost of stagecoach or wagon transport. With economical transportation in the West which had been referred to as the Great American Desert now farming, ranching and mining could be done at a profit. As a result, railroads transformed the country, particularly the West which had few navigable rivers.
For example, before the railroads were built in the West, if a farmer were to ship a load of corn only miles to Chicago, the shipping cost by wagon would exceed the price for which the corn could be sold. Mining and other economic activity in the West were similarly inhibited because of the high cost of wagon transportation.
